September 13 / 13.50 Doncaster

13.50

Good To Soft

Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)

  • Prize money: £85065
  • 0m 7f 6y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
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Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 1

Last run: 69 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Brings the least compelling form credentials, for all that he accounted for subsequent winners with a strong finish to collect by 2l at Ayr in early July (6f, good to soft; 10-1); clearly useful but whether he's up to this level remains to be seen.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(6)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Ascot

Cape Ashizuri

9st 10lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: John & Sean Quinn

Made a winning seasonal/handicap debut at Pontefract (6f, good) in April; flopped behind Thunder Call at York eight weeks ago; that run casts a shadow but he still has low mileage and could well rebound.

10/1

19th

5

(10)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:35 York

Cape Ashizuri

8st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Won at Ayr (6f, good to soft) on the first of his three 2yo starts and back on the scoresheet on his handicap/seasonal debut at Pontefract (6f, good) in April; 4lb higher in a deeper race today but he's unexposed and his illustrious pedigree hints that he could still have more to offer.

10/1

1st

3

(4)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

14:52 Pontefract

Cape Ashizuri

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Won on debut at Ayr (6f, good to soft) last July; finished last in Group 2 next time and runner-up in Redcar novice (6f, good) last November when last seen; gelded since; not obviously well treated off opening mark but his pedigree provides hope that he'll have more to offer.

7/2

Form: 611

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Unraced at Group level but looks highly progressive after finishing well on top in a valuable conditions race over Deauville's extended 6f (soft) a month ago (the second has since won a handicap); quotes would suggest he's held in high regard by powerful connections and dangerous to pass over here, especially should it get wet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(1)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

13:50 Doncaster

Cape Orator

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Unraced at Group level but looks highly progressive after finishing well on top in a valuable conditions race over Deauville's extended 6f (soft) a month ago (the second has since won a handicap); quotes would suggest he's held in high regard by powerful connections and dangerous to pass over here, especially should it get wet.

5/1

1st

1

(12)

25th Jun 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Cape Orator

9st 7lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Ralph Beckett

The Newbury maiden (6f, good) in which he finished sixth of 18 on his debut last month has been franked left, right and centre since and he showed more than enough to think he would be winning races himself; drawn widest but still of serious interest.

4/5

Form: 11 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Both runs over 7f on good to firm; looked very nice when overcoming signs of inexperience at Newbury and confirmed that promise in winning the Group 3 Acomb at York, a race that the yard's future 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean also won en route to taking this and the Dewhurst; likeably straightforward and it was never in much doubt last time after he raced close to the pace throughout; hard to knock.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(5)

11th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Gewan

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Andrew Balding

Beat a couple of today's rivals in the Group 3 Acomb at York (7f, good to firm; followed up debut win) but isn't guaranteed to confirm the placings, having failed to back up the form when favourite in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster where he was two places behind Oxagon.

20/1

3

(2)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

13:50 Doncaster

Gewan

9st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Both runs over 7f on good to firm; looked very nice when overcoming signs of inexperience at Newbury and confirmed that promise in winning the Group 3 Acomb at York, a race that the yard's future 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean also won en route to taking this and the Dewhurst; likeably straightforward and it was never in much doubt last time after he raced close to the pace throughout; hard to knock.

7/4

2

(7)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:25 York

Gewan

9st 3lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

80,000euros breeze-up 2yo in May (private sale); 9-1 from 11-1 for 11-runner novice at Newbury (7f, good to firm) nearly five weeks ago and always prominent, firmly in charge through the final 1f despite looking green; has Group 2 and Group 1 entry; others bring stronger form but that was a promising start.

10/1

Form: 51 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Frankel colt; caught on the wing when fifth in a traditionally strong maiden at Newmarket's July festival, the form of which could barely have worked out better; duly built on that when coasting home in front by 8l at Sandown (7f, good), in the process posting smart closing fractions; has the size and scope to keep improving and he's an exciting prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(7)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Oxagon

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won the Group 3 Craven on the Rowley Mile here in April (1m, good) in first-time cheekpieces; soundly beaten in Group 1s on next two starts and same outcome in Group 3 Hampton Court at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm); blinkers replace the cheekpieces and the drop back in trip could help; in with a chance on his best form, even under a 5lb penalty, but has to get back on track.

11/1

10th

2

(2)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Oxagon

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won the Group 3 Craven at Newmarket (1m, good) in April in first-time cheekpieces (retained) then kept on for respectable sixth in the 2,000 Guineas there (1m, good to firm); faded when 12th of 16 in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (10.5f, good) but this trip may well be within range if he settles better; not ruled out back down in grade under 4lb penalty.

7/1

6th

11

(10)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Oxagon

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Very useful colt but possibly needs to dominate, having gained both wins from the front, latest when taking well to first-time cheekpieces and comfortably beating Avicenna by 2l in the Craven Stakes over C&D (good; Group 3) on seasonal debut; by no means certain to have his own way in this bigger field and he's held by a couple of today's opponents on Dewhurst running; otherwise may have more to offer in the retained headgear.

10/1

Form: 42224

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Kept to 6f thus far and has advanced his RPRs with each run; hardly has the profile of a typical Champagne winner after five defeats, but twice runner-up in Group 2s (comfortably held admittedly) and a slow start did for him in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes a month ago; battle hardened and stepping up 7f is unlikely to pose any problems, so by no means discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

13

(11)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Puerto Rico

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Last two efforts in fast-ground Group 1s at 1m don't reflect his true ability and on going slower than good he has form figures of 114 (all on very soft) in Group 1s at 7f and 1m, with the defeat highly respectable on this season's reappearance when close up behind last weekend's Jacques le Marois winner Rayif; one to be interested in with cheekpieces given a go.

14/1

11th

11

(10)

29th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Goodwood

Puerto Rico

9st 2lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Ran creditably in the Poulains on seasonal debut when bidding for a French Group 1 hat-trick; dropped away to finish last of six, having been pestered for the lead, in the St James's Palace Stakes since; that latest effort doesn't reflect his ability but he's again the stable second string behind Gstaad and remains below the standard required to win this prize.

40/1

6th

5

(4)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Puerto Rico

9st 2lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Stablemate of Gstaad; appears versatile as regards ground; tough colt who proved a useful maiden prior to ending last season with a hat-trick when upped to 7f/1m in major 2yo races, including two French Group 1s; creditable fourth when favourite for the Poulains at Longchamp on reappearance; has significant form, may rate higher still over this distance and looks set to have his own way up front (gained his wins making all); one of the main players.

11/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.20
Straight Forecast £19.56
Trifecta £73.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Oxagon

RP RATINGS:

Gewan

TOPSPEED:

Puerto Rico

The Star:

Cape Orator

LAMBOURN:

Gewan

The Guardian:

Gewan

Daily Mirror:

Gewan

Daily Record:

Gewan

POSTDATA:

Oxagon

NEWMARKET:

Oxagon

The Times:

Oxagon

Telegraph:

Oxagon

Daily Mail:

Oxagon

D Express:

Oxagon

The Sun:

Oxagon